Monthly Archives: October 2009

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From Brigham Yen’s Pasadena real estate blog, the historic Herkimer Arms — the only apartment building ever designed by Greene & Greene — has been cut in half in preparation for its move to 407 N. Raymond Ave.

There, Heritage Housing Partners will convert the two-story structure from its current configuration of eight apartment units into two large, full-floor units. Architectural features like the exterior Gunite finish, terra-cotta tiles, built-ins, corner cabinets and
original doors will be preserved.

You can see some of those details here, in interior shots captured by staff photographer Keith Birmingham in August 2007.

Here’s a quick glimpse inside our photo shoot yesterday with the seven lucky ladies of the Tournament of Roses 2010 Royal Court. We are super excited about this year’s editorial fashion spread and working with photographer Watchara Phomicinda.

Q. Can you guess the location of our shoot? (Answer, and more, below.)

The Court — with their stylist and Tournament of Roses escorts — gathers on the patio

Princess Kinsey Stuart in the stacks

Cramming the equipment into the small spaces between shelves was a challenge

Princess Katherine Hernandez in front of the Peter Pan Fireplace

That’s a pop-up “Nancy Drew” book from the children’s wing

Queen Natalie Innocenzi in the reference section.(A. Yes, the shoot took place in the historic Pasadena Central Library.)

Our hot lights were Diva Lite brand, which is sort of fitting, no?

Mood lighting in a stairwell with Princess Michelle Van Wyk

Huge thanks to the library administration and staff — and especially the unsuspecting patrons — for allowing us to invade for a couple of whirlwind hours.

CurbedLA notes a price change on Frank Lloyd Wright’s historic “La Miniatura” house, built in 1923 into a ravine above the Arroyo Seco.

It’s been on the market for more than a year, starting back then with a selling price of $7.733 million. Now the listing is down to $5.59 million, CurbedLA reports.

The home’s owner David Zander (that’s him at top) talked to the Star-News in July 2008, following a multimillion-dollar restoration and just after he first put the property up for sale. From the archives, reporter Janette Williams wrote:

… it’s not for everyone.

Lloyd Wright’s buildings are known for being less than watertight, and the building materials and techniques don’t always
stand up well to climatic wear and tear.

The architect pushed the design technology and materials beyond his time, Zander said.

“That’s why many of his houses leak. I think that the house will leak forever – it just wants to, but it varies from
time to time and place to place. The house has a mind of its own.”

The restoration has put “La Miniatura” in very good condition, (Wim) de Wit, (architectural curator of the J. Paul
Getty Research Center) said, but agreed it will always need a lot of upkeep.

“It needs someone who appreciates architecture and will have patience,
who enjoys the spatial quality relating architecture
and nature,” he said. “It really needs to be lived in … not to be a
museum.”

(Below are some photos from a July 2008 photo shoot by photographer Walt Mancini.)

This weekend, I’m going to be screaming my head off during Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios.

But if I was three inches tall, I would go inside this haunted house instead.

Michael J. Kouri is a Pasadena “psychic medium” with a kitschy side interest in doll houses and miniatures.

If you’re not part of this niche interest group, you might not be aware that the most obscure items ever are available in a size only a doll — or a small rodent — could enjoy. Glass lollipop jar. Oil and vinegar cruets. Small LIFE Magazine with Michael Jackson on the cover. Or add this itty-bitty feather duster to your French-maid costume. (Note: I don’t even have these items in full-size for my real home.)

And continuing on a love of all scaled-down things– let’s get miniature, miniature … I wanna get miniature — we recommend Kouri’s exhibit of intricately detailed haunted doll houses on display this month at The Village Book Shop in Glendora. (626) 335-5720

Simulated dirty bomb detonation? A little entertaining — sort of like a radioactive obstacle course — but also prudently instructive.

This morning, Methodist Hospital conducted a practice run of what would happen in response to a bomb with radioactive material detonating at the Toyota Speedway at Irwindale. The scenario imagined hundreds of victims being exposed to radiation.

Dozens of nurses, hospital administrators,
“victim” volunteers from local schools and decontamination specialists were part of the demonstration in Arcadia.

There will be a ribbon-cutting Monday for the new Jet Propulsion Laboratory Flight Projects Center at 4800 Oak Grove in Pasadena. The structure was designed by Irvine-based architecture firm LPA Inc. (via CurbedLA)

Would you prefer two years of NFL games in Downtown Los Angeles or Pasadena? What Majestic Realty’s John Semcken wants, he almost always gets. (via CurbedLA)

The Pasadena Convention Center has received aBest of 2009 award from California Construction for its $150 million
expansion project. (via Star-News)

Ahead of our annual fashion shoot next week with the newly-announced 2010 Rose Queen and Royal Court, get a look at the transformation these local women have undergone in about a week.

The before photos on the left were taken on Oct. 12 at the big reveal of the seven Rose Court princesses. The after photos were taken yesterday during the announcement of Arcadia resident Natalie Innocenzi as Rose Queen.

What say you of their red, red blazers and red, red lips?

And: Did you know you can now follow the Royal Court on Twitter @therosediaries and at their official blog? The Tournament of Roses, that bastion of Pasadena tradition and ritual, is making strides into the modern era. Hello, Facebook! And YouTube. SRSLY.